division on gu ##ada ##lc ##anal in a loose perimeter around the lung ##a point area . on 12 august , the airfield was named henderson field after major loft ##on henderson , a marine aviator who had been killed at the battle of midway . the allied aircraft and pilots that subsequently operated out of henderson field were called the " cactus air force " after the allied code name for gu ##ada ##lc ##anal . in response to the allied landings on gu ##ada ##lc ##anal , the japanese imperial general headquarters assigned the imperial japanese army ' s 17th army — a corps @ - @ sized command based at ra ##bau ##l ( 4 ° 11 ′ 56 ″ s 152 ° 9 ′
division on guadalcanal in a loose perimeter around the lunga point area. on 12 august, the airfield was named henderson field after major lofton henderson, a marine aviator who had been killed at the battle of midway. the allied aircraft and pilots that subsequently operated out of henderson field were called the " cactus air force " after the allied code name for guadalcanal. in response to the allied landings on guadalcanal, the japanese imperial general headquarters assigned the imperial japanese army's 17th army — a corps @ - @ sized command based at rabaul ( 4 ° 11 ′ 56 ″ s 152 ° 9 ′